Perforating machine



1932- R. e. THOMPSON ET AL 1,873,511

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed May 21. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Iflventors Russel Z 6. 1 710712178011 Che ter WCramrine 1' heir ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932.

R. G. THOMPSON ET AL PERFORATING MACHINE Filed llay 21, 1930 dOiQ 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor .s

22 G. Thom son E 2 er WC'mmZa'ne W 4,514 1 fin their ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUSSELL G. THOMPSON m CHESTER W. camnm, OI ROCHESTER, m YORK, AS-

SIGNOBS TO maon'nc 'rrrnwnrms,

CORPORATION O! m You DIG, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A.

PIBJ'OBA'I'ING MACHINE Application fled Kay 81, 1980. Serial No. 454,888.

This invention relates to perforating machines, and particularly to perforating machines of the kind used for perforating master sheets used for controlling the operation 011: power driven typewriting machines, or the li e.

In operatin such machines, if two perforations for t e same key, as when a letter or character is repeated, occur only a single ordinary space distance apart, only one of them Wlll operate the machine, and the principal object of this invention is to provide a perforating machine with simple and ef- Ill ficient means for looking a perforating key that is depressed in the depressed position until another key is operated to space the work sheet which operates to automatically release the key previously depressed thus makin it impossible in the ordinary operation the machine to produce two perforations in the work sheet by the same key only a single space distance a art.

Another important ob ect of the invention is to provide means in a power operated perforating machine for locking the key levers in normal position when the power devices are disconnected from the machine to prevent accidental movement of the power driven devices when the power roller is silent, or stationary.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a perforating machine with means adapted to resiliently engage the key levers and lock a key lever that is depressed in depressed position until automatically released by the depression of another key lever.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a perforating bodiment of the invention,

machine constructed according to one emparts being broken away and others shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the devices for locking the key levers;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the space key, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the keyboard.

Referring specifically to the drawings. in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts in all the views, 1 indicates a key lever having a key 2 by which it may be manually depressed. Although only one key lever is illustrated herein, it will be understood that a plurality of key levers is employed, one corresponding to each of the typewriter keys to be operated by the master sheet. Said key levers are pivoted on a common rod 3 extending across the machine, and supported in brackets 4 mounted on the frame of the machine.

A spring 5 is connected to each of the key levers at one end and adjustably anchored to the frame of the machine at its other end, and resiliently maintains the key levers in normal position. The key levers project downwardly from their pivots, terminating in bifurcated ends at 6.

Mounted in the base of the machine is a power driven roller 7 operatively connected with a .source of power, such as an electric motor, not shown. A hand lever 8 is arranged at one side of the keyboard and is adapted to be manually operated to connect or disconnect the power driven roller from its driving means, or to operate a switch which controls a motor which drives the roller. Pivoted to the frame of the machine at 9 is an actuator 10 in the form of a bell crank lever, on one arm of which is revolubly mounted a cam 11 adjacent the periphery of the driven roHer 7. The cam 11 has a reentrant portion 12, and said reentrant portion is adjacent the periphery of the driven roller norm a1ly when the cam is ino erative. When, however, the cam is turned om the normal position in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in the drawings, 1t e ages the pen hery of the roller to be driven t ereun after a complete revolution, when t e reentrant portion again occupies a position'adjacent the power roller.

A stop arm 13 is pivoted on the actuator 10, and at one end engages a stop 14 on the cam and retains it in t enormal position. The other end of this stop arm is bent at right angles to form a lug 15 which is engaged by the bifurcated end of the key lever. spring-pressed arm 16 is also pivoted on the actuator 10 and resiliently engages a lug 17 on the cam and tends to turn the cam from the normal position into engagement with the driven roller. When the key lever 1 is depressed. the stop lever 13 is disengaged from the stop on the cam and releases the cam, which is turned by the spring-pressed arm 16 into driving engagement with the driven roller 7. As the cam turns, it swings the actuator 10 on its pivot, and depresses a link 18 pivoted at one end to an arm of the actuator and at its other end pivotally connected to a forwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever 19 pivoted on the common rod 3.

The bell crank lever 19 has an upwardly extending arm 21 which has a laterally projectin stud 22 which engages the slotted end 0 a sub-lever 23. The lever 23 is pivoted on a common pivot rod 24 mounted on a fixed part and has an upwardly extending arm which is operatively connected with a punch 25 slidably mounted in a guide member 26 extending transversely of the machine, and adapted to cooperate with a die 27 mounted in rear of the guide to operate on a work sheet 28 arranged on the die. A spring 29 is connected to the lever 19 at one end, and has its other end anchored to a fixed part and resiliently maintains the levers 19 and 23 in the normal inoperative position shown in the drawings, with a stop arm 31 on the lever 23 in engagement with the punch uide to limit the movement of the parts. en the actuator 10 is operated to swing the lever 19 on its pivot, the sub-lever 23 is actuated to slide the punch to make a perforation in the work sheet on the die. It will be understood that a plurality of the punches 25 are provided, each of which is operatively connected with a cam 11 adapted to be selectively operated by a key lever 1.

The work sheet is guided to the die on an apron 32 supported on the punch guide, and is positively engaged by a revoluble feed roller 33. Means are provided for revolving said roller step-by-step to feed the work sheet over the die after each punching operation. The roller 33 is revolubly mounted on a shaft 34 and at one end has a ratchet wheel 85 secured thereto. A detent 36 on one end of a lever 37 engages the teeth of the ratchet, and at its other end is connected to a spr ng 38 anchored to a fixed of the machine. The lever 37 is pivo on a fixed part, and the spring 38 serves to resiliently enga e the detent 36 with the ratchet to hold it an the feed roll stationary and properly with respect to the die, except when positivel operated by one or another of a plurahty o pawls adapted to e age and turn the ratchet to move the work eet.

A pawl 41 is pivoted on an arm 42 loosely A mounted on the shaft 34. The tooth of the pawl 41 is resiliently pressed into enga ment with the teeth of the ratchet wheel y means of a spring 43 connected to the pawl and the arm. The pawl 41 is automatically actuated to rotate t e ratchet one tooth distance to feed the work sheet one space each time one of the bell crank levers 19 is actuated to operate a pnunch for perforatin the work sheet. For 's pur ose, said bell crank levers have rearwa y projecting arms 44 an one of which when actuated engages an SWlIlgS a universal bar 45 pivoted at its ends at 46 on a fixed part of t e machine. The universal bar 45 has a rearwardly extending arm 47 which is connected with the arm 42 by means of a link 48. A spring 49 is connectedat one end to the arm 47 and anchored to a fixed part at its other end, and serves to resiliently maintain the parts in the normal position shown in the drawings, in which the arm 42 is resilientl held in engagement with a fixed stop 51. en the universal bar 45 is actuated by one of the levers 19, the link 48 is depressed and swings the arm 42 on the feed roller shaft 34 a ainst the tension of the sprin 49 until the imit of its movement is reache when the lever 23 engages the punch guide and the pawl 41 has been retracted a distance less than two ratchet teeth. The spring 29 then operates to return the bell crank 19 and the punch to normal position, which emits the spring 49 to retract and swing the arm 42 and with it the pawl until it engages the fixed stop 51. During this movement, the pawl engages the next tooth of the ratchet and turns it and the feed roller one tooth distance to feed the work sheet. During this movement, the detent 36 moves over a tooth of the ratchet wheel against the resiliency of the spring 38. At the end of its forward movement under the action of the spring 49, the pawl 41 is cammed into engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent overthrow and lock the ratchet a ainst movement by engaging a pawl 52 pivoted on an arm 53 at 54 and pressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel by a sprin 55. The arm 53 is fixed on the shaft 34 an normally engages a stop 56 on a fixed part. The arm 53 1s adapted to be 0 rated y devices not shown for rotating t e feed roller by power operated means through a distance of a plurality of ratchet teeth at each actuation thereof, as when making perforations for shifting for upper case, tabulating, or returning the carriage of a typewriting machine.

The above devices are of well known type and construction and form no part of the present invention except as they enter into combination therewith. For this reason a more detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary for a complete understanding of the present invention.

As previously explained, if two perforations by the same punch appear in the master sheet less than two space distances apart, only one of them will actuate the typewriter or other instrument operated thereby. It is therefore desirable that when the same impression is to be made successively, such as doubling a letter, that the perforations causing such operation appear at least two space distances apart. To this end, means are provided for locking suchkey levers in the operated or depressed position when actuated to perforate the sheet, a spacing key-being provided for releasing the depressed key lever and feeding the sheet forwardly one space so that the key can again be actuated to produce a second perforation in the sheet spaced at least two spaces from the previous one. Each of such keys is provided with means for releasin the previously depressed key so that all the ieys are always in normal operative position, except the one which was last operated. Each of these key levers has a forward extension 59 provided with a locking recess 61 with which cooperates a retaining bar 62 having a rearwardly projecting flange 63 normal y engaging all of the recesses 61 of the key levers. The retaining bar 62 has rearwardly and downwardly extending ears 64 at its ends, whereby it is pivoted at 65 to a fixed art of the machine. The forward ends 59 o the key levers are guided in vertical slots provided in aguiding member or comb 59 extending across the keyboard of the machine andsecured to the frame of the machine. The ends of the comb may be provided with rearwardly projecting flanges not shown, to which the arms 64 are pivoted. A spring 66 is connected at one end to the retaining bar, and at its other end is anchored to a fixed part of the machine and resiliently maintains the flange 63 and the retaining bar inv engagement with the recesses in the key leve rs. Each of the recesses has a forwardly and upwardly inclined wall 67 at its upper end terminating in a point having a rcarwardly inclined engaging surface which, when the key lever is depressed, engages the inwardly projecting flange 63 on the retaining bar and cams the bar forwardly against the tension of its spring until the point passes under the flange, when its spring returns the retaining bar to normal position, with its flange 63 engaging the incllned engaging surface of the key lever to retain it in depressed position against the tension of its spring 5.

A space key 69 is provided on a space key lever 71 which operates a lever 72 corresponding to the lever 19, and like that lever except that it is not connected with a sub-lever 23 and hence does not actuate a punch to perforate the work sheet. If desired to repeat the character produced by the operation of the key 2, it is necessary to release it to permit its spring to return it to normal position before it can be again actuated to perforate the sheet. Operation of the space key 69 advances the work sheet one space, and by its depression engages the retaining bar 62 and cams it forwardly to release it from locking engagement with the key lever 1, permitting that lever to return to normal position, and the space lever itself may then be engaged thereby, or the inclined engaging surface may be omitted therefrom, so that the lug does not pass under the flange 63. When any key lever, which is adapted to move the work sheet one space and has alocking recess 61, is depressed, the previously operated key lever is released from the locking bar and may again be depressed to make an impression on the work sheet.

Each of the key levers 1, which operates a punch to make a perforation in the master sheet which is adapted to select a printing key on the typewriting machine for operation, is operatively connected with the universal bar 45 for spacing the work sheet one space. Said key levers are also provided with recesses which cooperate with the retaining bar 62. There are other keys, however, which are operative to perforate the work sheet for producing perforations in the master sheet which are adapted to select non-printing keys of the typewriting machine for operation, such as case shift. tabulating keys etc. Such operations require an appreciable interval of time for their performance, and hence such perforations in the master sheet are to be followed by a blank space in the master sheet to silence the machine until such operations are complete. The keys of the perforating machine controlling such perforations are operatively connected with the arm 53 for actuating the pawl 52 for spacing the work sheet four spaces or more at each actuation. Since such keys are not successively operated, nor would they produce closely spaced perforations if they were, it is not necessary to lock them against a second successive operation. Said keys may therefore be cut off just in front of the guide member or comb 59' so that they do not cooperate with the controlling bar 62.

When the machine is not in use. as when the power is disconnected from the power driven roller 7, it is desirable that all the key levers be locked in the normal position, in order to prevent accidental actuation of the parts which might result in unnecessarily perforating the paper when the roller is again connected with its driving means. As previously explained, the lever 8 is operable to connect and disconnect the power driven roll er 7 from its driving means. The lever 8 is pivoted at 75 on a fixed part of the machine and is manually operable from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, in which the power roller 7 is connected with its driving means and the key levers free to be operated to a forward position in which the power driven roller is disconnected from its driving means and all the key levers locked against operation. To this end, a locking bar 76 is pivoted at to a fixed part of the machine, as the guide comb, beneath the extensions 59 of the key levers. The locking bar has a laterally projecting lug or stop member 77 which is adapted to engage the rear side of the lever 8. A spring 78 resiliently engages the locking bar and tends to swing the locking bar forwardly, thereby maintaining the projection 77 in resilient engagement with the control lever 8. When the control lever 8 is in the position shown in the drawings. the power roller is connected with its driving means and the locking bar is held in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, as shown in dotted lines in the drawings, and is free from looking engagement with the type levers. When, however, the lev'er 8 is moved forwardly from said position to disconnect the power roller from its driving means. the locking bar 76 is moved forwardly with said lever under the tension of its spring until the lever 8 reaches the forward limit of its movement, which limits the forward movement of the locking bar by its engagement therewith.

When the lever 8 is moved to its forward position, in engages a lug 62 extending from the end of the retaining bar and moves it forward out of engagement with the key levers. Any previously operated key lever which may be locked in depressed position is thereby released, permitting its spring 5 to return it to normal position. By this arrangement, all the key levers are locked against accidental depression while the power roller is disconnected from its driving means.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein. it will be understood that this application is intended to cover such changes or modifications as come within the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a power operated perforating machine, the combination of a die, a plurality of punches associated with said die for perforating the work sheet thereon, a power driven roller, a hand lever operable to connect and disconnect said power driven roller from its driving means, normally inoperative means associated with said power driven roller and operatively connected with said punches, key levers corresponding in number to the number of punches and operable to render said inoperative means operable by said power driven roller, a pivoted locking bar arranged in the path of all of said key levers to render them inoperable when said power driven roller is disconnected from its driving means, and means operated by said hand lever when the latter is moved to connect the roller with its driving means for swinging said locking bar from the paths of said key levers.

2. In a power operated perforating machine, the combination of a die, a plurality of punches associated with said die for perforating the work sheet thereon, a power driven roller, a hand lever operable to connect and disconnect said power driven roller from its driving means, normally inoperative means associated with said power driven roller and operatively connected with said punches, key levers corresponding in number to the number of punches and operable to render said inoperative means operable by said power driven roller, a movable locking bar, resilient means for moving said locking bar into the paths of said key levers, and means on said locking bar engaged by said hand lever for moving the locking bar from the paths of said key levers when said hand lever is actuated to connect the roller with its driving means.

3. In a perforating machine or the like, the combination with a frame, of a die, means for feeding a work sheet thereover, a plurality of punches cooperating with the die to perforate a work sheet thereon, keys for controlling the operation of said punches and actuating said feeding means to advance the work sheet one space each time one of said punches is operated, retaining means for locking said keys against a second successive operation to perforate the sheet at a point one space distance from the first perforation, and separate means for releasing said retaining means.

4. In a perforating machine or the like, the combination with a frame, of a die, means for feeding a work sheet thereover, a plurality of punches cooperating with the die to perforate a work sheet thereon, keys for controlling the operation of said punches and actuating said feeding means to advance the work sheet one space each time one of said punches is operated, retaining means for locking said keys against a second successive operation to perforate the sheet at a point one space distance from the. first perforation. a space key for operating the feeding means to advance the work sheet one space, and means on said space key for operating said retaining means to release said first mentioned key.

5. In a perforating machine or the like, the combination with a frame, of a die, means 6 for feeding a work sheet thereover, a plurality of punches cooperating with the die to perforate a work s eet thereon, keys for controlling the operation of said punches and actuating said feeding means to advance the 10 work sheet one space each time one of said punches is operated, retaining means for ocking said keys against a second successive operation to perforate the sheet at a point one space distance from the first perforation, and means on another of said keys movable into engagement with said retaining means for operating it to release the first key.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names. RUSSELL G. THOMPSON. CHESTER W. CRUMRINE. 

